Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-02

FuLQUk, THR NATIONAL BEvKRA0I-FURY MRscAI-
BULL FIGHTS At ToLUcA-ANcHr CITIES AND
rhofS-PukBLA AND rs MAGNIYICxKT CATHE-
OhA-NAESsR DEPOSITS OF PUREsr ONYX
Correspondence Of TIE EVENING star.
PUEBLA, MEXICO, March 20
One VI the most delightful excursions we have
mace was scenic trip Of As miles over the Mexican
Oon.lal railway to the ancient city OF Toluca, the
cApi'ai oi the State OF Mexico. This city, 5000
Ieet ABOVE the sea, has mixed population Of
io.ooo lnnaDltanta The views from an observation
CAS- as we Journeyed, were magnificent. Leaving
tne castie OF Chapultepec on the left. the train
puSnes OUT up heavy grade toward the western
arm VI the mountain ranges, and at Dos Rios,
alstance OF II miles, we are 1914 feet above
Inc sea Looking backward down the valley
through which our train made its tortuous way,
tnere were beautiful sundt Vistas ever-changing
plcIureS OF fertile fields feeding nocks adobe hutS
s soole1 wltn shingles held in position by heavy
ing streamlets, and stunned evefgreens creeping
Up me mountain sides. We soon reach the great
but 50 Feet 1as acfs
mountain side, one toward the quit the
9th; other TO- to the Pacific: As we drop down
Of the Mexican SKY old Nevada Ge To,uca, dead
s eS6CanO rearS its snowwhite peak 15,156 feet
s aDese our t1ack With what an awful majesty
Cnese glantS OF the universe stand clothed. How
lnsignncant we proud mortalS are in presence OF
SUCH expressions of the handiwork OF the Maker OF
80 NAA.' no NO journey OQW8Iu VIC pass
CnIVugn immense plantations of the maguey, o
sLec.eS VI aIoe, or century plant, the fermented
luce Oh WMch Is pulque the national beverage OF
ncn anu poor When the plants are six years old
Tue center or towering part Is cut out, leaving
casin, winch, filling, with sap is sucked into
gOur0 tw0 or three times each day, and emptied
!n0o pig SKINS and stored in tanks After ferment-
ing rev hours it has milky appearance, and
tastes much like sour beer
The poems who suck the san the filthy plg.skins
IN WMcn IL Is gathered, and the dirty tanks used
u lts fermentation, give American an idea that
InS Sun IS rotten. Yet bad as it tastes, two
Pulqaee Trains loaded with pulque run into the
lily vi MeXlco every morning the freight alone
paying $l,oOO per day. 1t Is drunk at the dinner
vi Ine rlcn and Is v1ctualS and drink for the poor
fiaming Signs open doors, sour SMELLS and scores
OF tlppers are evidences OF the pulQe shops where
me SUN can De sold during the day until o'clock,
Wnen, Dy an memorable law, the flow must cease
ni mo I It were far better II, in our own
lano, no nquOr was permitted to be sold after
aoMa. Nine-tenths OF the thefts robbenes, and
murders are the result Of bacchanalian revelS
IN me hours OF darkness, and but for this law In
MEXICO nlght would be made hOrrid with aSsaSSi-
nations Whenever, with all the other strange
SCreeI scenes Stalwart half-clad native is seen
staggering with a limp, lank fellow on his back,
we are not alarmed. We know 1t Is not sunStroke,
DuG DAD case Of pulque, and few hours sleep
VIII put MN In good shape for another like expe-
rlence. physicians wisely or otherwise advise the
use OF puique as remedy for indigestion, nervous
ness insomnia and general debility. BY distilling
the 1reSn young leaves OF the maguey plant mes
Cal Is obtained. This liquor is as